Economical asportable amusement device



f Feb. 17, 1970 L. R. cHANDQs ncauolxcn. Asronmms mussumu nnzvrcn nlFlb. 19. 1968 TREASURE HUNT ' wenn GAME United States Patent O 3,495,701ECONOMICAL ASPORTABLE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Laurance Robert Chandos, 306Summit, Winfield, Ill. 60190 Filed Feb. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 706,579 Int.Cl. B6Sd 6'5/16, 77/08; A631 2/00 U.S. Cl. 20G-45.33 8 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention generallyrelates to an amusement game for occupying children and especially whenthey are traveling cross country or are in other environments whichmakes the provision of large, complicated games undesirable. Theinvention is readily transportable, and, because of its compactness, maybe easily carried by an adult for ready enjoyment by one or more gameparticiants.

p Prior amusement devices are generally quite cumbersome and the parent,such as a mother, finds it inconvenient to carry bulky games or thoseutilizing a multiplicity of objects. Also there are those that arecostly and those that cannot be made available during travel on a publicor private conveyance or, for that matter, in Waiting rooms of doctorsoices, clinics or the like. In the present invention it is desired toprovide a small and compact complete game of low cost which a mother cancarry in her purse or the like without diiculty. In one embodiment ofthe invention means are provided whereby the player of the games, suchas a youngster learns to spell objects and learns to identify otherobjects in a simple, straigthforward, enjoyable manner.

SUMMARY oF THE INVENTION Therefore it is the principal object of thepresent invention to provide a unique gamev which is especially compact,low cost and easily manipulated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a word type game made oflow cost materials which may be disposed of after initial play of thegame. v

Still another object of thisV invention is to provide a game utlilizingindicia markers which, when coupled with the object of the game, teachthe players how to spell and identify pictured objects.

Briefly, the invention is an amusement game for occupying the attentionof children and the like and consists of a transparent, flexiblecontainer, one or more flat cards having a predetermined array ofV-shaped slots adapted to retain an indicia marker and cover over a likeindicia printed on the card. A plurality of indicia markers are providedwhich may take the form of letters or objects. A small prize object isalsoI provided within the container. The container being desirably of aplastic material is used to house the complete game package and `mayalso be used to store the plurality of indicia markers which areextracted one at a time during playing of the game.

3,495,701 Patented Feb. 17, 1970 ACC DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE1 illustrates one of the cards with indicia markers applied thereto ofthe invention utilized in a spell-down or word game embodiment;

FIGURE 2 illustrates one of the cards utilized in a treasure hunt gameembodiment;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the game package comprising aplurality of cards as well as the other components of the game;

FIGURE 4 illustrates the type of prize object that is contained Withinthe game package;

FIGURE 5 depicts a card of indicia markers utilized in the embodimentdepicted in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 illustrates indicia markers utilized in the game embodimentdepicted in FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 7 is a view taken along the: line 7-7 of FIG- URE 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Throughout the several views likenumerals of reference designate like elements and referring specicallyto FIGURE 1, a game card 2 is `shown having a plurality or array 3 ofV-shaped slots `4 and having outlined adjacent thereto in the square 6 aletter of the alphabet. The combination of the letters depicted spellout the object shown in proximity to the horizontal array 3; in thiscase a train. The V-shaped slots 4 are disposedv at substantially rightangles to one another in each of the squares 6 with an indicia markerpositioned within the slots 4 and more particularly by the tabs 5 formedby slots 4 and therein retained. A series of other pictorial objects, asWell as an array of slots and squares equivalent to the number ofalphabet letters spelling out that which is depicted, is provided onthel remainder of the card. The slots 4 are merely V-shaped cuts orperforations made in the card 2, thereby forming the tabs 5 which may beraised out of the plane of card 2.

The treasure hunt embodiment of the game is depicted in FIGURE 2.Pictorially represented Within the circles 8 are the type of objectsnormally hunted for in an actual treasure hunt. It is apparent that the`object depicted in the uppermost circle 8 is a hair or bobby pin andthe other objects depicted are readily discernible. As in the case ofthe card depicted in FIGURE 1, each of the circles 8 have associatedtherewith at least two V-shaped slots 9 so as to be able to retain anindicia marker having the same object depicted thereon as is representedin the appropriate circles 8.

Referring to the remaining figures, the complete game package 10` isshown (FIGURE 3) wherein a flexible, transparent container 12 havingheat sealed edges contains a plurality of cards 14, each of whichdiffers in the objects depicted thereon. Also Within the package 10 isthe prize object such as whistle 16 (FIGURE 4) or some such small prizewhich is made available to reward the winner of the game as will behereinafter described. Preferably, the prize object is so packagedWithin container 12 so as not to-be viewable from the exterior of thepackage by a prospective purchaser. This is -best seen in FIGURE 7 wherethe prize object 27 is disposed in a contiguous manner between theplurality of cards 14 making up the game package 10. In this instance itwill be noted that the toy or prize 27 is interleaved between thesuperposed cards 14a, 141;, 14C and 14d in such manner that it will notbe viewable through the walls of the container 12a and 12b. Because ofthe non-ilatness of prize 27, a slight protuberance on the exteriorsurface of the game package 10l will be formed. Also contained Withinpackage 10 is a sheet 18 (FIGURE 5) having a plurality of horizontallyand vertically aligned perforations 20 and 22 respectively to therebyform small rectangles 24, each of which have a letter printed thereon.The small rectangles 24 provide an indicia marker to be placed, forinstance, within one of the squares 6 of the card 2 depicted inFIGURE 1. Indicia markers 24 are preferably of the same size as thesquares 6 and are adapted to be retained within the slots 4 by tabs 5 ina substantially rigid manner with respect to card 2.

The indicia markers utilized for the game depicted in FIGURE 2 are shownin FIGURE 6 and are essentially of the same construction as the card ofindicia markers 18 depicted in FIGURE 5. In this instance, however,perforated sheet 26 has imprinted thereon various objects such as abottle, hairpin, button, ring, etc that would normally be hunted for ina treasure hunt game.

In the spell-down or word game embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, the one ormore marker sheets 18 are removed. The indicia markers 24 are separatedfrom one another and after removal and distribution of the remainingcards and removal of the prize object from the package 10, theindividual indicia markers 24 are placed within the bag 12 and mixed soas to obtain a random distribution. Where a plurality of players engagein the game, each takes his turn in extracting an individual indiciamarker 24 from the bag 12. He scans his card to ascertain whether or nothe has drawn a letter which will correspond to one of the letters of thealphabet depicted on his card. If he does have such a letter on hiscard, he inserts the indicia marker into the slots 4 such that the tabs5 are on the exterior surface of the indicia marker to retain sameWithin the square 6. If the player does not have such a letter of thealphabet on his card, he merely puts the marker back in the bag and thebag is again mixed for the next player to Vtake his turn. Obviously, theobject of the game is to ll ones card with the appropriate indiciamarkers before the other players.

The treasure hunt game depicted in FIGURE 2 is played in like fashionWith the exception that different cards are used and, of course,different indicia markers intended to be placed in retaining positionssignifying a maze or the like. However, the object of the game remainsthe same.

Ideally, the game cards are made of a lightweight at material such ascardboard or lightweight plastic which may be easily printed upon andthe indicia markers may alse be made of similar material providing thatthe individual markers are easily separated from the remainder of theperforated sheet. It is, of course, obvious that a pre-cut assemblage ofindicia markers may `be provided in lieu of the perforated sheet. Theplastic bag or container 12 should be of a type of plastic which willtake some abuse in that the players will be reaching into and out of thebag with some frequency. To this end, the bag 12 should have a lengthand depth not only equivalent to the cards it houses but also such thatentry thereinto is readily accomplished by the players.

Many various modications and alternatives will make themselves known inpracticing the invention but it is not expected that these will departfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, especially as embodied inthe appended claims.

An economical, easily handled amusement game has been described which,in one embodiment, teaches youngsters Word and letter association withspecific objects and as such provides an educational instrument. In allernbodiments there is provided an amusement game housed in one packagecontaining all of the components necessary for enjoyment.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are deiined as follows:

1. An amusement game for occupying the attention of travelers and thelike which consists of a transparent, flexible container, within saidcontainer: one or more flat superposed cards having indicia printedthereon and having a predetermined array of V-shaped slots each adaptedto retain a card-like indicia marker therein which covers over aselected one of said indicia printed on said card, one or a plurality ofsuperposed said card-like indicia markers and a small prize objectcontiguous to at least one of said cards and card-like markers, thecontainer being adapted to form a game package that can be convenientlyhandled and stored.

2. The game in accordance with claim 1 wherein said container is ofplastic and is of sufficient size and strength to permit the repeatedentry and exit of a human hand thereinto.

3. The game in accordance with claim 2 wherein said plurality of indiciamarkers are formed from a card having perforated punch-out portions,each of which upon separation from the remainder form said markers.

4. The game in accordance with claim 3 wherein said indicia printed onsaid card has two slots associated therewith forming tabs to retain saidindicia marker when inserted therein from horizontal and Verticalmovement with respect to said card.

5. The game in accordance with claim 4 wherein said predeterminedarrayof V-shaped slots are formed in spaced horizontal lines corresponding tothe letters of certain objects depicted in association therewith.

6. The game in accordance with claim 5 wherein said indicia on saidmarkers are letters of the alphabet and the indicia associated with saidpairs of slots correspond to one of the letters of the object depictedadjacent said horizontal row of said slots.

7. The game in accordance with claim 4 wherein said predetermined arrayof V-shaped slots form a maze or a series of curvilinear paths when aline is drawn connecting said slots.

8. The game in accordance with claim 7 wherein said arranged series ofslots form a treasure hunt game with a starting point and an end pointwith indicia markers corresponding to objects normally hunted for in atreasure hunt game and the indicia on said cards correspond likewise toindicia on said markers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,551,680 9/1925 Meissmer273-1527 2,690,912 10/1954 Noble 273-139 X 1,009,018 11/1911 Braine273-130 2,635,881 4/1953 Cooney 273-139 XR JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, PrimaryExaminer J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 206-47; 273-131

